Abstract:
Soil carbohydrates and particulate organic matter may be considered as appropriate indicators of soil quality. Data regarding the soil carbohydrate fractions and particulate organic matter in forest and cropland soils in Central Iran is scarce. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effects of converting native forests to cropland on soil organic matter, soil carbohydrate fractions (carbohydrates extracted with distilled water, 0.5 M Na2SO4 and 0.5 M H2SO4 by the oven and shaker methods) and particulate organic matter in Lordegan region of central Zagros Mountains, Iran. Soil samples from forest Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and cropland soils (tomato and snap bean) were taken from 0-20 cm depth. Forested and deforested soils were classified as typic calcixerolls and typic calcixerepts, respectively. The results showed that the amounts of total and particulate organic matter in native forest were almost four and twelve times higher (p<0.001) than those in the cropland site, respectively. Similarly, the ratio of particulate organic matter to soil organic matter was far greater in native forest (0.53) compared to cropland (0.19) site. Conversion of native forest to cropland resulted in significant decreases in soil carbohydrate fractions. For both soils, ANOVA indicated that extracted carbohydrate was lower in the shaken compared to the oven method. The concentrations of carbohydrate extracted with H2SO4 were higher than those extracted with Na2SO4 while those extracted with Na2SO4 transcended results when using water for both soils.
Jaber Fallahzade and Mohammad Ali Hajabbasi, 2012. Land use Change Effects on Carbohydrate Fractions, Total and Particulate Organic Matter of Forest Soils in Central Zagros Mountains. Journal of Applied Sciences, 12: 387-392.
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